Library will hold annual Holiday Open House

TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa Public Library will have plenty of kid-friendly activities Sunday during its second annual Holiday Open House.

By Margaret ClevengerSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa Public Library will have plenty of kid-friendly activities Sunday during its second annual Holiday Open House.“We want to say thank you to our regular patrons and put out a welcome mat to those who may not be familiar with us,” said Vince Bellofatto, director of communications and public relations for the Tuscaloosa Public Library.Bellofatto said there will be treats and crafts for the kids, movies and more.A craft workshop in the children’s department will include the opportunity to make an accordion Santa, a gingerbread family, a mouse pencil for writing letters to Santa and a Santa snail ornament.Read Bama Read will be giving away children’s books from 2-3 p.m. “We have a huge number of books that we collected after the tornado,” said Dana Duckworth, who helped found Read Bama Read along with Donna Benjamin.Read Bama Read’s mission is to raise money for new books to help school libraries in Tuscaloosa that were affected by the April 27 tornadoes. The group, which has partnered with the Literacy Council of West Alabama, has raised $54,000 toward the $150,000 goal. Donations will be accepted, but Duckworth said that the book giveaway is free.“This is an opportunity for some children to expand their reading library at home,” Duckworth said. Each child will be able to select one book as long as supplies last.Duckworth is also an assistant coach with the UA gymnastics team and will bring some of her gymnasts with her. “They will visit with the kids and help with crafts,” she said. At 3 p.m. Sunday, author Donald Staffo will be at the library signing copies of his book, “I Love Alabama/I Hate Auburn.” Staffo is a professor and department chair emeritus in health and physical education at Stillman College.The Holiday Open House event will begin three days of the “Can Your Fines” program. The program helps library patrons reduce overdue book fines while collecting food for Temporary Emergency Services.The offer applies to existing overdue library fines and does not include lost or damaged item charges. Library officials ask that you do not bring damaged or expired canned food. Last year’s food drive was a success, with more than 600 pounds of food collected for Temporary Emergency Services. “We hope to raise more than that this year,” Bellofatto said. All branches of the library are participating in “Can Your Fines,” but the main branch is the only one open on Sunday.